News-Info-Alerts

Re: Reward or Matter of Law - Commentary

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: May 01, 2003

"A Reward or a Matter of Law
Exclusive commentary by Thomas D. Segel

May 1, 2003

There has been a strong trumpeting of how the United States is rewarding the Iraqi attorney who gave our military forces information on the location of American POW Jessica Lynch.

According to all of the news accounts we have read or heard on television and radio, Iraqi attorney Mohammed al-Redaeif was visiting a hospital where his wife worked and during the course of that visit witnessed an American female soldier being struck by Iraqui military personnel.

He was so upset over this observation that he walked six miles through the desert to report her location to American Marines.

Not having enough information to take action, the Marines sent him back to make a diagram of the hospital. He returned later with a sketch of the complete floor plan.

We are all familiar with the dramatic and heroic rescue of Private Jessica Lynch, which followed.

What has never been discussed is the “why” of the story. Why did Mohammed al-Redaeif make that long walk through the desert? Why did he make a second 12 mile round trip on foot to bring Marines the floor plan? Was it a complete outpouring of his humanity? Or, was it perhaps to win a promised reward?

What has gone unsaid in all the media accounts is important information about a piece of legislation titled “The Persian Gulf POW/MIA War Accountability Act of 2001. This bill spent many months traveling through Congress, but was finally passed by the Senate on July 29, 2002. The President signed it into law on October 29, 2002.

The law directs the United States Attorney General to grant refugee status in our country to any alien who is a national of Iraq or a nation of the Greater Middle East Region, who personally delivers into the custody of the United States government a living American Persian Gulf War POW or MIA.

Logic requires a person to believe this information was a prominent part of any printed leaflets or flyers, which were scattered across the landscape of Iraq or hand delivered to any civilians who came in contact with American forces. The repatriation of any POW is high priority for all American military personnel and they would assuredly use all means possible to make sure information related to possible POW/MIA rescue was in the hands of those who might be able to influence such an outcome.

It is also logical to assume an educated man such as Mr. Redaeif would be familiar with a law, which offered refugee status in America for the safe return of any POW. This does not make his actions and risk taking any less significant. However, if he was aware of the law and the possible rewards, it does explain the “why” of this story.

Because of the Persian Gulf POW/MIA War Accountability Act, Mohammed al-Redaeif, his wife and their 5 year old daughter are now safely in the United States and no longer facing danger. They are in a safe home, have work, and will have their child educated. They live with clean air, water, electricity and a much-improved quality of life.

One could very well argue that 18 miles of desert walking and a few moments of personal danger make such a reward justified. It just seems strange that nobody brought the complete facts of the case to public attention."